North West Leicestershire

North West Leicestershire's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and health.

The population passed 93,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of North West Leicestershire increased by 9.3%, from just over 85,500 to 93,500.

The addition of almost 8,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North West Leicestershire was home to, on average, 2.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North West Leicestershire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North West Leicestershire increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 13% of people in North West Leicestershire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and North West Leicestershire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

North West Leicestershire saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in North West Leicestershire had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 30% to 29%.

Across the region, only Hinckley and Bosworth (from 11% to 9.7%) and Melton (from 10.0% to 9.1%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

During this period, North West Leicestershire went from having the fourth-highest to the 13th-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents out of 309 English local authority areas.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in North West Leicestershire

The percentage of North West Leicestershire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.4% to 4.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.5%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.6% in 2001. The percentage of North West Leicestershire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in North West Leicestershire that rented privately increased from 5.4% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of North West Leicestershire households that owned their home decreased from 76% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in North West Leicestershire increased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in North West Leicestershire, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in North West Leicestershire

The percentage of adults in North West Leicestershire that were married decreased from 57% to 53% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage of adults in North West Leicestershire that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.9% to 12%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 53% in 2001 to 49% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 51% to 47%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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